I have been reading conflicting opinions (go figure) on whether it is appropriate to use a strobe at night strictly to be seen or not. Other articles say it should be used for emergencies only. I would like to hear some thoughts from the list on this. Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Use of Strobe-Slam dunk! Emergency use only!!!!!!!!!!! Chuck Sutherland *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
A strobe is for emergency use. .Hal Tom Buckley wrote: > I have been reading conflicting opinions (go figure) on whether it is >appropriate to use a strobe at night strictly to be seen or not. Other >articles say it should be used for emergencies only. I would like to hear >some thoughts from the list on this. > >Tom *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
My concern with leaving a strobe on at night is that the strobe could easily be misinterpreted. Other boaters may think your strobe is some sort of flashing bouy marker. Night vision is not as good as day, so your strobe could make things very confusing for others. I do have a strobe clipped to my lifejacket, but it is there only to be used in an emergency. If I get separated from my boat, this is my last resort method for remaining somewhat visible on the water. --- Tom Buckley <nbrunner_at_telus.net> wrote: > I have been reading conflicting opinions (go > figure) on whether it is > appropriate to use a strobe at night strictly to be > seen or not. Other > articles say it should be used for emergencies only. > I would like to hear > some thoughts from the list on this. > > Tom --------------------------------------------------------------- Please limit all email attachments sent to this address to a maximum of 0.5MB. All email attachments that are larger then 0.5MB will automatically be deleted. --------------------------------------------------------------- ICQ: 262152266, AIM: GlamourpetsD, MSN: [my email address], Yahoo Messenger: glamourpets --------------------------------------------------------------- *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Derek wrote: > Other > boaters may think your strobe is some sort of flashing > bouy marker. This shouldn't be much of a problem, as emergency strobes are supposed to flash at much higher rates than any navigation marker. In fact, the use of a strobe with a slow flash rate is not permitted as it can be confused with a marker. The only thing that confuses me about this is that Chart 1 lists valid navigation light flash rates that are in the same range as valid emergency strobe rates. > I do have a strobe clipped to my lifejacket, but it is > there only to be used in an emergency. If you are on the Great Lakes, a strobe is classified as an emergency signal and should never be used for anything other than an emergency. In other waters, the strobe is not an official emergency device, but is likely to be interpreted as such. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On 9/29/06, Tom Buckley <nbrunner_at_telus.net> wrote: > > I have been reading conflicting opinions (go figure) on whether it is > appropriate to use a strobe at night strictly to be seen or not. Other > articles say it should be used for emergencies only. I would like to hear > some thoughts from the list on this. > Strictly for emergencies and even then with caution. Two problems with strobes: 1. If you are in waves higher than 2 or 3 feet the strobe's flashing may not be seen because when you come up onto the top of the wave the strobe might not be on; 2. A strobe is so bright that it ruins night vision for anyone who looks at it. The flashing characteristic of a strobe means that rescuers cannot get a reliable fix on your position because their eyes carry a residual image from the bright strobe. When we did some testing 25 years ago when strobes first came out we compared them to the incandescent lights that back then operated off a single D-cell battery. We found that people in the water were much easier to rescue if they were wearing the incandescent light as opposed to the strobe. Even though the incandescent light seemed much dimmer. My wife and I subsequently cruised a sailboat for five years with an incandescent light pinned to our safety harnesses. We each had two, by the way: one for wearing over a tee-shirt and one for wearing over foulies. I recommend the use of a steady LED as a rescue locator. These work very well especially for US boaters since the USCG night rescue personnel use night vision goggles when they are out on a mission and they can see quite dim lights. Craig Jungers Royal City, WA *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
It is inappropriate to use a strobe to increase your visibility to other craft, exceot as detailed below. Your question is best answered by the USCG posting at the Navigation Center's FAQ's. Here's a link and the info from the site: http://www.navcen.uscg.gov/mwv/navrules/navrules_faq.htm - 0.3_13 Can I use Strobe Lights to be more visible at night? For any other lights beyond those specifically defined within the Navigation Rules they should be such lights as cannot be mistaken for the lights specified in these Rules, or do not impair their visibility or distinctive character, or interfere with the keeping of a proper look-out (Rule 20). Displaying a strobe for b higher visibilityb would confuse other vessels as to your navigational status (many aids to navigation use a strobe or flashing). Also, lights provide direction and aspect information to other boat operators. For example, if while operating my vessel I see a red light on my starboard side I know I am the give-way vessel (Rule 16, 17). The use of a strobe light could overwhelm a vesselbs navigation lights and cease to provide such crucial direction and aspect information to other boat operators. Also, Rule 36 of the International Rules addresses signals to attract attention and for the purpose of [that] rule the use of high intensity intermittent or revolving lights, such as strobe lights, shall be avoided. Rule 37 of the Inland Rules addresses strobes in regards to distress signals so that when a vessel is in distress and requires assistance she shall useb&a high intensity white light flashing at regular intervals from 50 to 70 times per minute. Since strobe light use is to be avoided (International waters) or used as a distress signal (Inland waters), it cannot be used to routinely mark vessels operating on the water. John Browning Milwaukee, Wisconsin -----Original Message----- From: nbrunner_at_telus.net To: paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net Sent: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 9:59 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Use of a strobe I have been reading conflicting opinions (go figure) on whether it is appropriate to use a strobe at night strictly to be seen or not. Other articles say it should be used for emergencies only. I would like to hear some thoughts from the list on this. Tom ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi! Last symposium I attended with Coast Guard rescue personnel there, they specifically said that they ALWAYS consider a strobe to be an emergency signal and will investigate. This was in Washington State. Suggest you contact your local area office and see what they say. Pam Washington State -----Original Message----- From: nbrunner_at_telus.net To: paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net Sent: Fri, 29 Sep 2006 7:59 AM Subject: [Paddlewise] Use of a strobe I have been reading conflicting opinions (go figure) on whether it is appropriate to use a strobe at night strictly to be seen or not. Other articles say it should be used for emergencies only. I would like to hear some thoughts from the list on this. Tom ________________________________________________________________________ Check out the new AOL. Most comprehensive set of free safety and security tools, free access to millions of high-quality videos from across the web, free AOL Mail and more. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
On Sep 29, 2006, at 7:59 AM, Tom Buckley wrote: > I have been reading conflicting opinions (go figure) on whether it is > appropriate to use a strobe at night strictly to be seen or not. Other > articles say it should be used for emergencies only. I would like > to hear > some thoughts from the list on this. > > Tom > ********************************************************************** > ***** In the recent issue of Sea Kayaker Magazine there is an article about night paddling which gives a lot of important info about the issue of lights. Using a strobe would tell everyone you are in trouble, and most likely ruin your night vision. The article is not online yet ( http://www.seakayakermag.com/articles_REVIEW.htm ) but one can hope it will be soon... Paul Montgomery paul_at_paddleandoar.com http://paddleandoar.com *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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